Chapter 9 …
“You— …No. It’s nothing.”
With those words, Azel turned away and disappeared, leaving me behind.
What was that about all of a sudden?
Something about the way he left felt unresolved, but no matter how much I thought about it, nothing would change.
“Ah, here you are, our guest.”
“Seymour.”
Not long after Azel vanished, Seymour came to find me.
Wearing his trademark sly, crescent-moon smile, he looked—oddly enough—thoroughly entertained.
“You seem to be in an especially good mood,” I remarked.
“Yes. The master just shared a very interesting story with me.”
An interesting story?
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of tale would delight the one and only Seymour Cleor.
But—
“…Mm. Well. That’s great, then. Congratulations.”
I didn’t particularly want to know.
More precisely, I don’t want to get involved.
Whatever story could make that lunatic grin so wide his nostrils flared—there was no way I wanted anything to do with it, even if my life depended on it.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“Oh, no. I’m fine.”
Maybe my refusal was too quick and too firm, because the corners of Seymour’s mouth lifted even higher.
“I’ve obtained a new clue, so I expect I’ll be quite busy for a while.”
“I see. That’s a shame—being busy and all.”
“No need to pity me. I do this because I want to.”
For someone drowning in work, having such high job satisfaction was, in its own way, fortunate.
Still, it wasn’t information I cared to know, so I really wished he’d just leave already.
“I simply adore the expressions people make when their carefully hidden weaknesses are laid bare.”
I know.
“It’s when human nature reveals itself most clearly.”
I know.
So please, just go already.
“That’s why I’m very much looking forward to this one as well.”
But this damn Simian—no, Seymour—showed no sign of leaving.
After rambling on by himself with a blissful expression for quite some time, Seymour finally stopped talking only after I snapped at him in irritation.
“I get it. I fully understand your goal of figuring out who I really am so you can mock me as soon as possible. So please—stop.”
“My, how perceptive you are.”
Who do you think spoon-fed you the clues?
Apparently my disbelief showed plainly on my face, because Seymour burst out laughing, clearly enjoying himself.
“Hahaha!”
To have a declaration of war made right to my face—and yet be able to do absolutely nothing about it!
If I were like those other transmigrators in novels, overflowing with power and talent, I might at least have punched him once.
For the first time, I resented this weak, useless body.
Well, hey. Even I don’t know who I really am. If they dig it up for me, that’s convenient, isn’t it?
Of course, I couldn’t help but worry.
But seriously… what am I going to do about my name?
It had already been a week since I arrived here.
Truth be told, it was about time I chose a proper name.
Maybe it’s better if I just make one up myself?
When Azel first asked my name, I’d panicked and floundered—but thinking calmly now, it wasn’t that hard.
It only feels difficult because I’m thinking “fantasy-style name.” If I just make up something in English, it’s fine.
Mary, Anne, Julia, Pickle, and so on.
Can’t I just pick one of those?
And yet, when it came down to it, I hesitated to choose so carelessly.
—
“Then… will you give me one?”
“Are you saying you won’t tell me?”
“…I want the name you give me.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s what kept me alive.”
“…!”
—
Back then, in my panic, I’d played the tragic backstory card a little too convincingly.
And now, after all that, casually revealing a name felt wrong.
Yeah. That would be kind of awful.
It seemed I’d have to wait a bit longer before settling on a name.
“Then what is this?”
The next day, I finally went to see Azel.
“A gift.”
As I answered, I placed a single flower into the hand he’d been holding out.
As expected, his expression clearly said, What kind of nonsense is this?
He must have been that dumbfounded—he didn’t even resist once as I put the flower into his hand.
“…You’re calling this a gift?”
“Yes. It’s similar to your eye color, isn’t it? Isn’t it pretty?”
Perhaps my earnest gesture—bringing him a red flower fallen by the window and calling it a gift—moved him, because Azel’s expression visibly soured.
Sorry. Big sis is broke.
A transmigrator dropped into an unfamiliar world with nothing but the clothes on her back is penniless. And this body didn’t even have a wallet—so I truly had no money.
Still, it had to be better than asking for something empty-handed.
“I gave you a gift, so give me something too.”
“…What?”
Now Azel was looking at me like I was the world’s greatest bandit.
That kind of thug-like stare actually hurts, you know.
Sure, the flower resting in his palm was small and trivial, but treating a person like that was still rude.
And besides, I wanted something very specific.
“Give me a name.”
I’d held out for a whole day. That was enough.
“A name?”
“I told you. I don’t want to keep being called ‘hey, woman.’”
In exchange for the gift, I intended to get a name from Azel.
Only now did he seem to realize why I’d brought this all the way here—his expression grew even harsher.
“It’d be faster if you just told me your own name.”
Instead of answering, I simply smiled brightly.
Enough talk. Just give me a name.
He clearly caught my meaning, and though he looked even more annoyed, that wasn’t my problem.
“You bring something this pathetic and call it a gift.”
That, at least, I couldn’t let slide.
“What do you mean ‘pathetic’? It’s beautiful.”
“It’ll wither and rot soon enough.”
“But we’ll remember its beauty.”
The word remember seemed to grate on him—Azel’s expression sharpened.
“Memories are useless.”
“How are they useless? They all become cherished moments.”
“Memories kept by yourself have no value at all.”
The sharp barb that flew from his tongue brought the conversation to a halt.
Startled, I stared at him, while Azel looked like he’d realized his mistake.
So it was a slip, huh.
In the game, Azel never revealed his Achilles’ heel as a regressor so directly—so I was taken aback too.
It left me feeling… strange.
He’s kind of pitiful.
Yes—pitiful.
The strongest being in the world, that terrifying final boss, trembling and bristling over something as small as memories—it made him seem painfully human.
“Then don’t keep them to yourself. Share them.”
Before I realized it, the words slipped out—completely unplanned.
“Share them?”
“The memories you’ll build from now on won’t disappear anymore.”
“…!”
Azel had only one fear.
Living the same life over and over again.
“I promised, didn’t I? That I’d give you your life back.”
And he would never regress again.
“You don’t have to lose anything anymore. Everything you achieve in this life—you’ll be able to keep it until the end.”
So he could rest easy.
There was no need to fear. No need to be on guard.
I might be an excellent liar—but at least this much, I could say honestly.
“So don’t be afraid anymore.”
His red eyes—like the petals of the flower—silently watched me.
She’s strange.
By the time the woman finished speaking, Azel was convinced of it.
How can she be so certain?
Women who spoke of salvation were always filled with conviction.
This time was no different.
She says she’ll give me my life back.
Words he’d never heard before.
A promise he’d never made before.
“In that sense, please accept this flower as a gift.”
Everything about this moment—every step of it—was a first.
“Planting flowers outside might be nice too. It’ll take time, but someday they’ll grow big and bloom beautifully.”
“It might turn out to be pointless.”
“Or it might become the second-best thing you’ve ever done.”
How was that possible?
Azel found it strangely unsettling that all these firsts were being created by the woman standing before him.
“Of course, the best thing you ever did would be meeting me.”
Unaware of that truth, she continued to look at him, smiling innocently—
Radiantly, dazzlingly bright.
What is with him? Why is he like this?
What’s wrong with his eyes?
It wasn’t the first time Azel’s red eyes had stared straight at me.
But somehow—
Yeah. Something was different today.
O-okay. Smile first.
They say you can’t spit at a smiling face. I kept smiling through the unsettling atmosphere, but my cheeks were starting to twitch.
No, seriously—what is it? Why is he staring like that?!
Just as my anxiety peaked, Azel’s lips finally moved.
